Coconut Fiber Gardening

Mats made from coconut fiber protect plant soil.

Coconut mats made from coconut shell fibers are extremely sturdy but also very porous. Gardeners often use these mats in hanging baskets to support and nourish their hanging plants. The fibers in the mats hold water very well and act as mulch for the plants they hold. The mats are also easy to cut. Slicing into the side of a mat in a wire basket allows you to plant a small plant there, resulting in some interesting arrangements.

Things You'll Need

• Coconut mat
• Plastic tub
• Wire hanging basket
• Rich potting soil
• Trowel
• Seedlings

Instructions

1. Fill a plastic tub with room temperature water. Immerse your coconut mat in the water, making sure it's completely covered. Allow the mat to soak overnight. It will swell and offer a cushioned, damp environment for your plants.

2. Lift the coconut mat from the water; it will be heavy. Wring it out so it no longer drips and line your hanging basket with it. You can get coconut mats woven like bowls solely for fitting inside hanging baskets.

3. Fill the coconut mat completely full of soil. Dig a hole for each of your seedlings about the same size as the plants' root balls. Untangle the roots of each plant before placing them in the soil. Press the soil around the base of each plant.

4. Plant no more than three seedlings per hanging basket. More than that will cause mold and competition for food. Water the basket until the mat begins to drip again. Hang from a sturdy hook in your ceiling.

References

• Clemson University Extension: Hanging Baskets and Window Boxes
• Gardening Tips 'N Ideas: How to Make Hanging Flower Baskets